As a former student athlete at the University of South Florida, we dedicated our time to the children in the surrounding community. We participated in a Thanksgiving food drive, Great American Teaching and a Christmas gift drive annually. As a team, we loved volunteering because we were able to be role models and positively impact so many of their lives. The highlight for majority of the team was when our coach gave the children tickets to our games and we were able to see them holding signs and cheering for us. I wanted to continue giving back to the community throughout college so I asked my cousin, a social worker, if I could volunteer my time and help her with some of the children she worked with.
Many of the children I spoke with had issues with one particular counselor because he did not like that many of them were gay. I approached him and suggested that if he was uncomfortable with the children that he should change jobs. He stated that he was getting paid pretty well and all they needed was the word of God. Instead of helping them with their real issues, he was forcing religion on them. This situation reminds me of Jennifer Keeton; she is anti-gay and counseling students who refuse remedial training (Huff post). Keeton insisted that homosexuality is an “immoral personal choice” and refused to affirm a gay client’s behavior as “right or healthy”. Federal Judge J. Randall Hall, the 11th Circuit previously dismissed Keeton’s appeal for a preliminary injunction, pointing out “counselors must refrain from imposing their moral and religious values on their clients”. I agree with the judge, not everyone has the same beliefs. I understand Keeton’s point of view, but when you are a counselor you will have a broad range of clients and it is very important not to let your own personal beliefs interfere with the client’s. You have to expect differences and be able to deal with them. If you are feeling uncomfortable, you must handle yourself professionally and suggest your client seek counseling somewhere else. “When affairs of the conscience ripen into action – either speech or conduct – government is granted leave to regulate in behalf of certain public interests, including education and professional fitness” (Hall). This is where Keeton went wrong and did not follow the right procedure; she should have followed the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics within the university’s program which is required by all counselors to follow the same code of ethics.
This article ties in with our weekly reading. The religious preference which is VII of the Civil Right Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on a person’s religion (Snell & Bohlander). This situation does not just happen in schools, it happens in many workplaces. Homosexuals are classified as minorities and this can be seen as being disrespectful to religious believers. At the end of the day you cannot control someone else’s beliefs. Everyone was not raised the same way as others. Religion is defined differently across diverse cultures. That doesn’t mean everyone believes in it. So this doesn’t give one person to judge someone else. Besides, we live in a society where many states and countries have legalized gay marriages. At some point, people have to accept them or at least respect them.
